Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint

Shree Maa: Life of a Saint, by Swami Satyananda Saraswati

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The biography of Shree Maa describes the extraordinary experiences of an enlightened being. Knowing her divinity from childhood, Shree Maa left home at an early age to reside in the seclusion of the Himalayas and devote her life to spiritual practices. Having realized her ultimate unity with God, she has dedicated her life to sharing wisdom and inspiration. The story of Shree Maa’s journey is a classic example of realizing the human potential, no matter what field of endeavor one may choose.

About the Author

Swami Satyananda Saraswati is considered to be one of the foremost Vedic scholars and Sanskrit translators in the West. He is the author of nearly 60 books in nine different languages representing a significant contribution to the understanding of Hinduism and Vedic religious practices.

Swamiji comes from the Dashnami lineage of Adi Shankaracharya, and belongs to the Saraswati tribe of renunciates and scholars who are living the life of a teacher and a knower of wisdom, worshiping with both spiritual knowledge and devotion. His Guru, Swami Amritananda Saraswati, initiated him into the Vedic Knowledge, Sanskrit, and the Chandi Path and sacred fire ceremony as his primary system of spiritual discipline in 1971.

He practiced the recitation of the Chandi Path in the Himalayan snow and in the hot springs of Bakreswar. Through this rigorous penance, he became impervious to the influences of heat and cold. Through his experiences walking the length and breadth of the Himalayas over 15 years, Swamiji fell in love with Sanskrit and became proficient in numerous languages including Bengali and Hindi. Wherever he went he would learn the local systems of worship and inspire those around him to participate. Swamiji’s expertise and experience spans many different religious traditions. His realizations and teachings make him a living example of Ramakrishna’s Gospel, “as many as there are individuals, so many are the paths to God”.

In 1979, Swamiji met Shree Maa when he was performing a vow of worship in a small temple in the interior of West Bengal. They toured India, spreading their divine love and inspiration by performing pujas, homas, and sharing their realizations, and teaching their methods of spiritual practice. In 1984 they came to America and established the Devi Mandir, where he and Shree Maa shine their beacon of light from Napa, California. Today, they share all their resources to give every individual an opportunity to access these spiritual teachings.

Product Details

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Devi Mandir Publications (December 15, 2005)

ISBN-10: 1877795712

ISBN-13: 978-1877795718

Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches

Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces

Book Reviews of

Shree Maa: The Life of a Saint

By Steven Newmark, Ph.D. author of Maharaji’s Darshan

Swami Satyananda’s clear, simple style makes the life of an extraordinary person like Shree Maa accessible to the western reader. The fact that this Swami spent his childhood and early adult years in the US allows him to translate the exotic and unusual experiences of an Indian saint into an easy to comprehend, enjoyable reading experience. This book is easily digestible and leaves you with a good feeling, like a delicious vegetarian meal cooked with a lot of love.

I found the author’s description of Shree Maa’s childhood particularly fascinating. Many of us may have wondered what people like Gandhi, Yogananda, Ramana Maharashi and others were like when they were children. Here Swami Satyananda gives us a rare glimpse into the formative years of a saint.

The advantage of writing a biography about a living saint is that there are so many first hand witnesses to their amazing lives. Throughout this book, both from westerners and easterners who know Shree Maa well, we receive a very personal and touching view of this great soul. The freshness of these stories give this book an unusual exuberance and vitality.

The fact that the Swami has now lived with Shree Maa for twenty years allows him to write, not from the dry perspective of a historian, but from one with intimate direct knowledge of this extraordinary person. Swami’s first hand descriptions of meeting and traveling with Shree Maa were particularly illuminating.

The Sadhus stories at the back of the book were reminiscent of Paul Reps classic collection of Zen Buddhist teaching stories Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. These pithy stories are fun and illuminating.

I would recommend this book for all readers who are interested in gaining insight into the ancient wisdom of Hinduism and who want to understand how the enlightened state of mind manifests in a human body.

By A Customer

Shree Maa, the life of a Saint, reveals a life devoted exclusively to divinity in all its forms. Since childhood, her purity and focused determination brought her to the highest realization of the omnipresence of God. Without concern for personal comfort or gain, her life exemplifies true spiritual behavior and illustrates the ideals of human perfection.

In this enchanting biography, Shree Maa, the life of a Saint, Swami Satyananda tells the true story of Shree Maa of Kamakhya, one of the most respected yoginis of North India. Shree Maa grew up in one of the wealthiest and most prestigious families of Assam, before rejecting a life of privilege for a life of spiritual practice in the Assamese jungles. Swami Satyananda’s account of her transformation into a saint is incredibly inspiring, as are the many beautiful passages describing how the yogis and yoginis of the Himalayas actually survive in one of the most remote locations in the world.

He includes eye witness accounts by devotees who have met her in India and abroad, as well as a delightful collection of Shree Maa’s own favorite stories of the saints and ascetics of India. In the mid-1980s, Shree Maa’s guru abruptly sent her to the United States. The story of Shree Maa’s reaction to America, makes for enlightening, moving and amusing reading.

Sometimes when I read about India’s saints and yogis they seem so far away, as if they belong to an inspiring fantasy world of the past, which doesn’t really connect with my own day-to-day existence in Western culture. This book is a much appreciated reminder that extraordinary men and women are still being born and bred in the Himalayas, and that they’re not as far away as we imagine.

“Shree Maa is a pure example of Truth in the Kali Age.” Ramnath Aghori Baba. “Shree Maa is one of India’s most beloved and respected Saints. At last her extraordinary story is being told to the English speaking world!” Sushil Choudhury, Inspector of Schools, Government of West Bengal. “Shree Maa is the real thing. What a story! Everyone on the spiritual path should have this book.” Swami Vishnudeva Vairagi, Mahanta, Kalpataru Math, Orrisa.

By A Customer

This is a very special story about one of India’s most beloved saints, written by an American who fully adopted a Hindu path and became Shree Maa’s close partner as a spiritual teacher and leader of worship. Written with great respect, Swami Satyananda tells the many stories that have grown up around this Indian incarnation of the Mother Goddess and her complete devotion to God, which she lives out in both deeply joyful worship and in the exquisite care of those around her. Woven into the warmly good humored and inspiring stories are quiet lessons in Hindu philosophy and religion, reflecting Shree Maa’s graceful blending of the various Hindu traditions into Oneness. Recollections by American devotees and delightful Sadhu teaching stories complete the volume. A joy of a book! -A.M.

By Christa Bollinger

Beautiful! Inspiring! Unbelievable!

By Robert Mills

The book tells us about the life of Shree Maa through the eyes of Swami Satyananda as well as many devotees. Additionally, it has beautiful stories. It is a profound book that really made me think about how to live a life with God, in God and for God alone. Jai Maa!

By Preeti Pandey

This book introduces us to one of the greatest living Saints in the world today! It is just amazing in how beautiful and simple it is. I have got copies of it for my spiritual friends and we are all unanimous in recommending it.

By Gauri Gangadharan

Shree Maa’s life story is unbelievable each page taught me something so profound and uplifting that I am having a hard time saying anything except Thank You to Shree Maa and to Swami Satyananda for this great treaure house!

By Sheela Chaudhry

It is so wonderful to be able to read and learn more about Shree Maa! She is simply divine as is her story as is this book!

By Per Kistler

A very well written account of an Indian saint which arrived at deepest spritual insights and her American friend, who seems to have no problems with year long spritual practices. Both lived the extreme, but in the most noble way. The book inspired me in my own spiritual practice and was a great reading.

By Sushil Choudhury, Inspector of Schools,
Government of West Bengal

Shree Maa is one of India’s most beloved and respected Saints. At last her extraordinary story is being told to the English speaking world!

By Swami Vishnudeva Vairagi, Mahanta,
Kalpataru Math, Orrisa

Shree Maa is the real thing. What a story! Everyone in the spiritual path should read this book.